Flag and lantern holder



' (No Model.)

APP. SMITH. FLAG AND LANTERN HOLDER.

No. 561,826. v Patented June 9, 1896.

, UNITED STATES PATENT 1 tries.

ARCIIIBALD F. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLAG AND LANTERN HOLDER.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,826, dated June 9, 1896. Application filed October Z2, 1895. Serial N0. 566,554. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD 1*. SMITH, a

citizen of theUnited States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Penns'ydvania, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Flag and Lantern llolders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a device for decorating, and has for its object to provide such a device which is adapted to be readily attached to a surface and by which flags, lanterns, or other articles may be supported in such manner as to form a design; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order thatthose skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction and operation in detail, referring by number to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective of my improved device secured to a post or upright; Fig. 2, a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the springs with the coils made uniform.

Similar numbers denote like parts in all the views of the drawings.

1 represents a bracket having a projecting shelf 2 at the top and a similar shelf 3 at the bottom, but smaller in size, and a and 5 are holes formed through the upper and lower shelves, respectively. The inner walls of these holes are notched at 6 for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

7 are coil-springs provided with hooks S at 1 their lower ends, adapted to engage the notched portions of the holes 5, and the upper extensions 9 of these springs are bent at 10,

" so as to engage the notched portions of the holes 4. Upon the free ends of the extensions 9 are formed spiral hooks 11, by means of which lanterns may be suspended, and I preferably bend the central extensions nearer the horizontal line, so as to better display the three lanterns thus suspended. A flagstaft is placed in cachet the coilsprings 7 through the holes i, and are prevented from slippin downward through said springs by the re duced coil 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that flags placed in this holder will be retained therein against accidental removal by the grip of the coil-sprin gs thereon and the lanterns suspended from the extensions will have a spring waving movement should the device be attached to a car or like object or be placed in a position where they will be acted upon by the wind and yet will have no liability to be displaced.

In order to secure the device to a suitable surface and yet permit its ready removal, I form in the bracket a buttonholeshaped slot 13 and in the upper shelf a slotli, so that by securing a screw 15 and a screw-eye 16 in the woodwork to place the device in its proper place it is only necessary to pass the enlarged end of the slot 13 over the screw-head and force the bracket downward until the screweye passes into the slot 14, where by the use of the hook 17, pivoted to the shelf, the device may be securely held in place.

hen it is desired to remove the device from its position, it is only necessary to swing the hook 17 upon its pivot and force the bracket upward, when it may be withdrawn from its books, as will be readily understood.

For the decoration of trolley-cars and other moving objects, when it is necessary to secure the decorations firmly in place, my device has proved very desirable in that without injury to the woodwork it may be readily secured in. place and yet easily removed when not in use, and it also has the advantage of extending the lanterns held by the extension above the surrounding objects, and if these extensions be made of considerable length it will be seen that the lanterns will in proportion be elevated.

I am aware that slight modifications may be made in the construction shown, and I do not wish to be limited thereto, as the spirit of my invention rests in the broad idea of providing a device by which flags and lanterns may be securely held and easily removed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. In a device of the character described, a bracket having slots to receive screws, upper and lower shelves having holes therein,

holes formed in the shelves, coil-springs atv tached to said shelves in alineinent with said holes, extensions of said springs projecting r upward and outward and having formed at their extremities hooks by which lanterns may be suspended.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two 20 subscribing witnesses.

ARCHIBALD F. SMITH.

Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, SAMUEL L. TAYLOR. 

